A/N: Look, a new update! I'm just as surprised as you are at how fast it came!
I need to apologize for any confusion. I've just found out I mixed up the name of the joke shop in Diagon Alley. I thought it was 'Dervish and Bangs', though now I have no idea where I heard that name to begin with. If it is from someone else's fan fic, sorry! The store is actually called 'Gambol & Japes' according to a website. I might go back and change it, but it's kind of annoying to upload the entire chapter again and fix all the spacing… you get the idea. So, since no one has noticed but me, just ignore everything I said, and don't worry if I use a different name later on.
Ryudo- You are too smart for your own good…
Greymalkin- I have never left the US, and know nothing about England. I tried to keep the description of the area around the orphanage vague for that reason. Also, the name Cromwell was a complete coincidence. I was on Google, looking up British last names when I saw it.
hilarydilarydoc- You will find out more about Blaise's story later, possibly not until the sequel.
CharmsCharlie- Sneak might have magical abilities, not sure yet; but I want to wait for the opportune moment to introduce that sort of thing.
potterfanforever- I don't want to make Harry too intelligent yet. He is still new to the wizarding world, and probably wouldn't understand what most of the books were talking about in the first place. Can you honestly say you would know what transfiguration is if you hadn't read the HP books?
-Thank you to all the new reviewers! Did you find my story in a C2 archive? I was in shock when I got the email that my story was added to one of my favorite communities!
-I know Blaise is supposed to be a guy, but if other authors can make Harry the product of an affair between Lily Evans and Severus Snape, then I can change a little thing like gender about a practically nonexistent character!
"C'mon, Harry, I dare you."
Harry gulped as he looked down at the box in his hand. The packaging was of disarmingly bright colors, but he knew better. Inside were some of the most insidious wizarding sweets he had yet to try, and here was Blaise, knowing he never backed down from a dare.
Shakily, Harry dipped in his hand, pulling out a bright pink candy speckled with green. Taking a deep breath, he gave Blaise a fleeting glance, which she returned with a smirk, before popping it in his mouth.
"Blearrhg! Who in their right mind creates a vomit-flavored jelly bean?" Harry gagged spitting it out. Blaise sat on the floor of the compartment, howling with mirth. Harry gave her a glare before tossing the empty box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
He and Blaise were both riding in a compartment at the back of the Hogwarts Express. Dumbledore had insisted they go on the train so as not to arouse suspicion. After all, it seemed even the Ministry of Magic was unaware that their hero lived in a muggle orphanage. In other words, neither were any Death Eaters.
Halfway through the trip, a witch had come by with a trolley full of junk food, and Harry, after learning of the vault full of gold he'd inherited, couldn't resist buying at least one of everything. So to pass the time, he and Blaise had been munching on things like 'Cauldron Cakes' and 'Sugar Quills'. Then he'd spotted the beans, and it soon turned into a battle of wills and luck testing the unknown flavors. Blaise had gotten lucky, with a series of strawberry, chocolate, and toffee. The worst she had tasted was sardines. Poor Harry had only managed vanilla before getting grass, pepper, and the oh-so-wonderful vomit.
"Hey, what's this?" Harry picked up a box labeled 'Chocolate Frogs' while smiling evilly at Blaise. He handed it to her as she got back on her seat, "Your turn."
Blaise shut up quickly while looking inside. She nearly screamed when a dark brown frog hopped out. It took one look around the compartment with its chocolate eyes before leaping out the open window. Blaise gave a sigh of relief.
"Hey, no fair! I actually had to eat that bean!'
"Yes, well at least it wasn't moving!" Blaise retorted. She was still examining the package when she pulled out a card, "Hey, look, these things come with cards of famous witches and wizards you can collect."
Harry turned to her sharply, "Please tell me I'm not on one…"
Harry was still recovering from his first experience with fame. After the scene caused at Eeylop's Owl Emporium, a crowd of curious people had awaited him outside. Unfortunately, Harry had lost his hat. No matter how ridiculous it was, it still might have kept him safe. Instead, they'd been surrounded by witches and wizards all clamoring to shake his hand. Thank god for Hagrid. The giant had easily plucked Harry and Blaise from the swarm and made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron without any interruptions.
"Oh, relax, Harry, you're not on this one. It's Dumbledore. It says what he did on the back, listen to this…
Albus Dumbledore
Currently Headmaster of Hogwarts
Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindewald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.
"Wow, looks like you're not the only one to defeat a dark wizard," Blaise commented.
"That's nice to know," Harry replied, "How many of them are there exactly, and what's with the names? First 'Voldemort' and now 'Grindewald', not exactly fear-inspiring."
"Actually, Professor McGonagall told me everyone calls Voldemort 'You-Know-Who' or 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'. It's like they're afraid of saying his name. Sheesh, it's not like he can hear them."
Their conversation on the stupidity of wizards continued until the compartment door slid open.
"Oy, Fred, look who it is!"
"I see, my dear George. It's the two pranksters in training-"
"Excuse me-" Harry slapped a hand over Blaise's mouth before she could finish her indignant outburst.
"I don't believe we finished introductions back at Diagon Alley-"
"This is our little brother, Ronniekins," they stepped aside to reveal a boy with the same vibrant red hair.
"It's Ron," he corrected with an irritated glance at his brothers.
"I'm Blaise Zabini," she allowed the twin on the right to shake her hand.
"Er," Harry began with some hesitation, "I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
Fred, or was it George, gasped, "Seriously?"
"Um, yeah."
George shook his brother out of his stupor, "Well, we just wanted to say hi," he shoved Ron further into the compartment, "We have to get going-"
"Our mate, Lee Jordan says he brought a huge tarantula!"
Ron gave a nervous shudder.
"-So enjoy the rest of the trip, little firsties-"
"-And stay out of trouble!" with that, the two left, and the compartment was filled with awkward silence.
Ron fidgeted nervously for a few minutes, before finally blurting out, "Is it true?"
"What?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Have you really got… the scar?"
Harry pulled back his bangs, revealing the infamous lightning bolt.
"Wicked," he breathed, his voice filled with a kind of reverence.
"Whatever."
Blaise saw her friend shift uncomfortably, and decided to change the subject, "So, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?"
"Yeah, I'll be the sixth in my family to come here," he said gloomily.
"Sixth? How many siblings do you have?"
"Well, first there was Bill, he's working for Gringotts now, then there's Charlie, studies dragons in Romania, Percy's still in school, prefect too, you met the twins, there's me, and next year my little sister Ginny will be starting here…"
"Damn," Blaise whistled, "Any more on the way?"
"No, I'm kinda hoping that's it. I think mum's just happy she finally had a girl."
"Mmm, whatss, that? I ssmell ssomething deliciouss…"
Harry jumped at the sound coming from his school robes, causing both of his companions to stare at him strangely.
"You alright, mate?" Ron asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm fine," he said a little too quickly. When Ron continued talking about his family, Harry listened closely to the light hissing.
"Oooh, I haven't had a nice juicy rat in ages…"
Harry looked around and spotted a pink tail hanging out of the boy's pocket. Trying to be discrete, he clamped a hand on the sleeve Sneak was trying to emerge from.
"Um, Ron?"
Ron made a questioning noise, his mouth now filled with a left over pumpkin pasty.
"What's that?" Harry gestured to the quivering lump in his pocket.
The boy swallowed and reached in, pulling out a fat brown rat, "This is Scabbers. Got him from my brother, Percy. He's bloody useless, does nothing but sleep. Why?"
Harry thought quickly. He didn't think snakes were allowed at school; they certainly weren't suggested as familiars. Dumbledore might have known about Sneak, but he didn't seem inclined to say anything as long as Harry's friend stayed out of sight.
"Oh… it's just my owl, Hedwig," Harry pointed up, where a snowy white owl was perched on the luggage rack, "She has a certain affinity for rodents…"
By now, Blaise was looking at Harry as though he'd lost it. He met her gaze and glanced at his wiggling sleeve. Her eyes widened in recognition, and she struggled not to laugh.
"You don't think she'd try to eat him?" Ron placed a hand on his shirt protectively.
"Well, it's been a while since I fed her. She's new, and I have a little trouble controlling her," Harry heard the bird give an offended squawk, "You might want to put Scabbers away…"
The train ride lasted for another hour or so. Blaise and Harry tried to get to know Ron, which wasn't the easiest thing.
Harry had convinced him to put away his pet, although he knew he'd have to deal with two very pissed familiars later. Sneak was grumbling that he was going to starve to death at this rate, and Hedwig had turned away from him, disgruntled at being his scapegoat.
Ron Weasley wasn't as outgoing as his twin brothers, and seemed to have a lot of self-pity when it came to being one of the youngest of his siblings. One thing Harry and Blaise had learned was that he was set on Gryffindor. Ron's entire family had ended up there, and he had nothing good to say about the other houses.
It gave Harry a chance to see the four Hogwarts houses from another point of view, even a slightly prejudiced one. According to Ron, Gryffindors were all for the light side, and the Boy Who Lived could end up nowhere else. Ravenclaw was for the bookworms of the school. Hufflepuff was the more pathetic bunch, most of them were pushovers. On Slytherin, of course, Ron had the most to say,
"Just about every witch or wizard to go bad was in Slytherin… even You-Know-Who!"
Overall, Blaise and Harry found it a relief to get off the train at Hogsmead Station. They grabbed their trunks, which they'd been forced to bring just for show, and said farewell to Ron.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
"Hey, Hagrid!" Harry called as he and Blaise made their way over. All of the first years were gathering into boats, apparently to cross the lake. He, however, knew from experience that there were easier ways to get to the castle, such as the horseless carriages that the rest of the students rode in. The boat trip must have been for the experience alone.
He and Blaise soon discovered just what made the detour worth it. Even after staying a Hogwarts for a few days, it was still amazing to see the castle at night. The numerous windows and towers were lit up and twinkled over the water. Many of the students were exclaiming in awe. To even those of wizarding background, it was an enchanting sight.
The boats finally reached the shore and the students clambered out.
"Alrigh', make sure ya don' leave anythin' in the boats. If you'll just follow me-" Hagrid paused when something caught his eye, "Oy, any of you lot lose a toad?" he asked, referring to the green amphibian perched on his boot.
"Trevor!" a boy cried out in relief and ran to scoop up his pet. In the back, Harry heard a couple kids snicker rudely.
"Right, now follow me," Hagrid raised his torch and led the nervous students up the dark lawn.
They soon reached the massive front doors, and Hagrid knocked, the sound reverberating through the night. They swung open almost immediately, and Professor McGonagall beckoned them inside. She brought them to a small chamber just off the side of the Great Hall. Harry could already hear the murmur of hundreds of students from inside.
The first years huddled into the cramped room, whispering to their neighbors anxiously.
"How do you think they're going to sort us into our houses?" Blaise asked.
Harry shrugged. The staff had been unusually vague in explaining the process. Dumbledore claimed that it was supposed to be a surprise for the new students. In Harry's point of view, they just enjoyed watching the eleven-year-olds squirm.
"Do you think it will be some sort of test?" an Indian girl asked her twin.
A girl with frizzy brown hair started rattling off every spell she had read about to the others, who were listening to her know-it-all voice with desperate expressions. Harry guessed she was a muggleborn from the excitement in her voice as she described a scouring charm.
"My brothers said it hurts… a lot," Ron was telling them. The boy with the toad paled drastically and whimpered.
"Oh, that makes me feel better," Blaise told Harry.
He raised an eyebrow, "How?"
"If his brothers, as in Fred and George, told him that, then I would highly doubt the credibility of that statement." She pointed out sensibly.
Harry nodded in agreement. It was just too bad that Ron was gullible enough to believe them, as well as all the others listening to him describe the supposed torture Dumbledore would expose them to.
After several minutes of waiting, Blaise and Harry considerably calmer than the rest, McGonagall reentered. She gave a small, encouraging smile to the duo before addressing the others,
"Come along, we're ready for you."
The frightened whispers cut off abruptly at the headmistress's return, and the children scrambled to get a good place in line, meaning the back. They moved into the Great Hall under the expectant gaze of the student body. Some forgot their nerves as they examined the room, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the magical ceiling, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside," the girl at the front of the line was happy to explain.
McGonagall halted them in front of the head table, where Dumbledore smiled warmly at them. The students looked around in confusion. 'Well? What next?' Eventually, they followed the headmaster's gaze to find… a hat. An old, patched wizards' hat sitting on a stool in front of everyone.
"Okaaaay…" Blaise trailed off expectantly.
Suddenly, the frayed piece of headgear did the last thing any of them expected. It burst into song:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hates sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can top them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindor apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap!"
p.118, Hp & PS
While the entire hall started clapping, Harry and Blaise stared openmouthed at the now-motionless hat.
"That was… interesting," Harry commented.
"Just when ya think the wizarding can't get any weirder…" Blaise added.
When the applause died down, Professor McGonagall walked forward with a long scroll, "When I call your name, please come forward and place the Sorting Hat on your head… Abbott, Hannah!"
A girl with blonde pigtails stepped forward, mentally cursing her initials, while Blaise silently cheered at her own last name, 'Zabini'.
The hat fell down over her eyes as she sat frozen on the stool. There was complete silence as everyone watched the hat. Ten seconds later, a mouth reappeared out of nowhere and shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The girl replaced the hat and ran over to a table under a yellow banner. Her housemates cheered as they shook hands and offered her a seat.
Bones, Susan joined Hannah in Hufflepuff moments later, and Boot, Terry became the first Ravenclaw. Brown, Lavender was a Gryffindor, and as she joined her table, Harry spotted a cluster of red hair, most noticeably, the catcalling twins. Bullstrode, Millicent became a Slytherin, and Harry took a moment to observe the house. While Hufflepuff had worn bright, perky smiles, and Ravenclaws had used polite clapping, the Gryffindors were the loudest, cheering and stomping. He noticed the Slytherins were unique in that they all seemed to have a mischievous smirk as they welcomed a new snake.
Soon Granger, Hermione was called. Harry realized it was the frizzy brunet. He expected her to end up in Ravenclaw. With all the information she'd been reciting earlier, she sounded like a textbook. Therefore, he was surprised when the hat placed her in Gryffindor. 'Maybe there's more to just personality in this…'
When Longbottom, Neville was sorted, he was also put in Gryffindor. Of course, being put in the house of bravery didn't stop him from nearly running off with the hat in his excitement and tripping over his own feet on the way to bring it back. That caused a ripple of laughter as the boy hastily sat down to cover up his blushing.
As Harry's mind drifted, he jerked back to reality at the next name; Malfoy, Draco. Blaise elbowed Harry incase he wasn't already paying attention, "Look, it's that prat from Diagon Alley!" she groaned in irritation when he was put into Slytherin after the hat barley touched his head. She'd already had her heart set on the house for the cunning.
Harry didn't really mind where he went. Really, despite what one might think, he wasn't picky. The only cause for concern Harry had was that he and Blaise would be split up. They had been best friends for six years, and he didn't want that all to end because some cheapo, Halloween-rental hat put him in a different house! Unfortunately, by the time his name was called, he could only hope for the best, and that he wasn't put in Hufflepuff, because no amount of persuasion nor bribery would convince Blaise to transfer there.
"Potter, Harry!"
Harry gave a last glance at Blaise and she smiled nervously as he walked forward. Harry grumbled as some of the students didn't bother to hide their curiosity.
"Hey, did she say Potter?"
"Yeah."
"The Harry Potter?"
"Wow, I can't believe he's here!"
"I can't believe how cute he is!"
"I can't believe how small he is!"
Harry nearly paused in his stride, incredulous at the last two comments. Only a glance at the headmaster's twinkling, yet watchful, eyes prevented him from doing anything rash. He tried to ignore the stares he was receiving, and hurried to place the hat on. The entire hall was buzzing and the students leaned forward to get a good look at him.
"Hmmm, Mr. Potter," Harry restrained himself from jumping when a small voice whispered in his ear, "You are very difficult to sort…"
'Oh, please don't let this be a repeat of Ollivanders…' Harry thought. The hat already sounded like the old man, and if that was any clue, they could be here until morning.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure we'll find the house for you... Plenty of courage, I see, and not a bad mind either. You're quite loyal to your friends, but you can also be a deadly enemy. Really, you would do well in any house. But where to put you?"
"I just want to get this over with," Harry mumbled while trying not to express too many of his thoughts. It was uncomfortable having someone in your head…
"Ah, I see… your friend wants to go in Slytherin. You wouldn't do to bad in there either."
"Then why don't you put me there?"
"Impatient, aren't you?" the hat chuckled.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Harry retorted sarcastically.
"Be careful, you're starting to sound like the Slytherin head of house…"
Harry cringed, 'Eww… him, like Snape?'
"Despite your reaction to that, it seems Slytherin might be the right choice after all. The wizarding world will certainly be surprised to find their hero in Salazar's house…" If the hat could, Harry was positive it would be smirking right then.
"Well, I couldn't care less what they want," Harry glared at the inside of the hat, "If they think they know me so well, then they're in for a shock."
"I believe I have made the right choice. You have a far greater destiny than any can imagine, Harry Potter... Untapped power resides in you… When the time comes be sure to use it well…"
Before Harry could ask what the hat meant, it shouted for everyone to hear,
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry lifted off the hat, wondering how long he had been sitting there. He would have stayed to ponder the hat's parting words, that is, until he noticed the ringing silence throughout the great hall. There was no applause, and he clearly heard the dull thunk of a goblet hitting the floor. He looked to the teachers' table for answers, and was startled at the way they were looking at him.
Dumbledore's classic twinkle was almost nonexistent, McGonagall was white-faced, even Hagrid had his mouth wide open. Snape's reaction threw him off the most. The man sat frozen in his chair, hand hanging limp in the air while his goblet rolled across the floor. His black eyes, for once not glaring with hatred, were glazed.
Harry would have congratulated himself on the potions master's loss of composure, if the rest of the school wasn't in a similar state.
A quick survey of the hall showed his peers in a similar state. The older students were more shocked at the staff table, while the unsorted first years looked at him in fear and confusion. Good old Blaise simply twitched an eyebrow and rolled her eyes at the dramatics.
"Eh-hem," Harry clearing his throat seemed to bring at least the Slytherins out of their stupor.
The table under the green and silver banner cheered uncharacteristically while McGonagall readjusted her parchment and straightened her robes. Dumbledore smiled grimly, and Professor Flitwick employed all his skills in charms in an attempt to revive Professor Snape.
Harry walked toward his new house, his heart beating uncomfortably fast. He was offered a seat between two older students as they shook his hand while looking smugly at the Gryffindors.
The sorting continued, and Harry managed to forget all about his own turn. He was able to focus his attention on Ron, sorted into Gryffindor, as he glared in a betrayed fashion at Harry. He was perfectly unaware of the calculating looks he was receiving from Draco Malfoy, as Blaise took a seat next to him, barely containing her excitement, or her mirth as she pointed out several parties that looked ready to jump him. He didn't notice the way quivering Professor Quirrell watched him throughout the feast. In fact, Harry even gave his own personal rendition of the school song along with Blaise, as the Weasley twins tried to compete. All in all, Harry decided blissful ignorance was very comforting. For a while, Harry could forget the mysterious words of the Hogwarts Sorting Hat as he and Blaise followed the other Slytherins to their dorm, wandering through the maze of dungeons. He put on a drowsy smile as he bid his best friend goodnight.
It wasn't until Harry was safe in his four-poster bed with the emerald hangings drawn shut, that he dared to think about the events of that day. Once his glasses were off, he started unseeingly at the canopy, as though looking for answers. Harry didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but he was sure of one thing, it was going to be an long year…
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A/N: I know some of you are upset at the rate that I am updating and the content of my chapters, so I put this one out earlier. You have to understand that all of my ideas are spontaneous. I don't know what will happen next until I start typing. I was up until 12 am last night because I finally broke through my writer's block, and I had to wake up at 7 in the morning to go volunteer! Coffee was the only thing keeping me awake this morning! I hope you appreciate this!
I am planning the next chapter right now, so if there is anything specific you would like to suggest for the school year, send in suggestions!